Multidisciplinary Module for Ireland-based Doctoral Students 2011

Adapting Research Methodologies for Developing Country Conditions: A multidisciplinary module for Ireland-based Doctoral Students

Images courtesy of:

Bisoke Crater, Rwanda.  Credit: David Taylor, TCD, 2010
School children in Machinga District, Malawi.  Credit: DevTech Systems, Inc, USAid, 2007
Kamiranzovu Swamp, Rwanda.  Credit: David Taylor, TCD, 2010
Woman Farming, S. Africa.  Credit: Edward Lahiff, UCC 2006

To view the module flyer please click here.

Module Outline

The module, Adapting Research Methodologies for Developing Country Conditions, will be offered as a series of multi-disciplinary workshops and seminars in a compressed period. Approximately 20 teaching hours will be offered over a week. The exact breakdown of sessions is attached. Teaching will take place over a four day (Monday – Thursday) period with approximately 5 teaching hours each day. The module will close out on Friday morning with presentations from PhD and Masters Students undertaking development research followed by a panel discussion on “Research and Research Utilization”. The module will run from 7th – 11th of November 2011 (TCD Reading Week).

Presentations will address issues that are of common relevance to development researchers from across a wide range of disciplines. These presentations will be developed and delivered by researchers who are active in development-related fields, including politics, economics, health, environment, education, rural development, biological sciences, culture and anthropology, etc. Open and closing sessions will frame the module and will give an overview of the context and issues of relevance and draw together themes in a consistent manner. The core content sessions will address a range of cross-cutting issues relating to the conduct of fieldwork and research in developing countries. Each day will include a workshop focusing on methodological issues and a seminar focusing on contextual development issues. There will be five/six workshops and four seminars in total.

This module is not intended to provide an introduction to research methodology in general, nor to substitute for other (discipline-specific) training that is already on offer. Rather, it aims to provide research students with specific guidance on how to adapt their research methodologies to developing country conditions and prepares them for working in a new and challenging social, political and economic context. By exposing students to a multi-disciplinary environment, it also aims to prepare them for explaining their work to people from diverse backgrounds and to encourage them to reflect on the wider social and political relevance of their work, within a development paradigm. The module will also provide students with the opportunity to interact with experienced researchers and to learn about the most recent research in this area.

While the module will address the developing world in general, there will be a particular focus on sub-Saharan Africa.

The module is offered by TIDI, the Trinity International Development Initiative as part of the wider ‘Doctoral Training for Development in Africa’ project which is supported by Irish Aid and the Higher Education Authority.

Teaching Approach

Mix of:

• structured inputs (teaching)

• discussion/group work

• guest presentations

• case studies

• panel discussion drawing together themes and researchers at the end of the week

• a series of student-led presentations on their work to date or their ideas/what they have learned

Target Audience

The primary audience is PhD students in any discipline working on development issues / developing countries, based at TCD or any other Irish higher education institution. Ideally students will be in the first or second year of their PhD and be preparing for fieldwork. The module is also open to prospective PhD candidates (e.g. current master’s students) interested in developing a research proposal in this field, subject to availability of places. No fee will be charged for this module.

Supervisors, heads of departments and post-graduate officers are invited to draw this module to the attention of their students including those who may be just registering for doctoral study at this time. Supervisors are also encouraged to register their PhD students (or indicate their interest in the course), even if students have not yet started their studies.

Timetable

The module is compressed and will be offered during the week of 7-11th November 2011 (official TCD Reading Week)

Each day will include a workshop focusing on methodological issues and a seminar focusing on contextual development issues.

Morning Worshops: (Mon-Fri) 10am - 11.30am and 11.45am - 1pm
Afternoon Seminars: (Mon-Thurs) 2pm – 4pm

Please click here to view the timetable in pdf version.

Other information

Fees:

No fee will be charged for this module.

Attendance and Accreditation:

At a minimum, participants will be provided with a TIDI certificate of attendance. The module is worth 2.5 ECTS and this will be awarded to students that fulfil the criteria which include a full attendance to all the sessions and involvement in discussions in the class and online through moodle. All students who attend a minimum of 75% of the workshops and seminars will receive a TIDI certificate of completion.

Venue:

The venue is Class Room 309, 3rd Floor, Centre for Global Health, 7-9 South Leinster Street, Dublin 2.

To view the TCD campus map with directions to the Centre for Global Health, please click here.

Please note a change of venue on Friday 11th November which will take place in the Innovation Academy, 3-4 Foster Place, (off Dame Street), Dublin 2.

Registration

Please complete the online form by Friday 28th October. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis until full

For Further Information Contact:

Module Coordinator,
Dr Ogenna Manafa
Email: Ogenna.Uduma@tcd.ie
Tel: +353-1-896-4177

or

TIDI Coordinator
Sarah Glavey
Email: sglavey@tcd.ie
Tel: +353-1-896-3668